Device for installing and removing fluorescent tubes



E) J. FRD

Oct. 7, 1958 DEVICE FOR INSTALLING AND REMOVING FLUORESCENT TUBES Filed June 14 1956 INVENTOR.

EMERY J. FORD BY ATTO RN 5Y6 United States Patent O ice 4 DEVICE FOR INSTALLING AND REMOVING FLUORESCENT TUBES Emery J. Ford, Raymond, Wash. Application June 14, 1956, Serial No. 591,462

3 Claims.. (Cl. 294-21) The present invention relates to a device for installing and removing fluorescent tubes, and is particularly adapted to the removing of fluorescent tubes from light fixtures.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an implement with which to be able to reach a fluorescent tube from floor level, gripping the same so as to remove the same from its socket for replacing the tube within the socket, gripping the same in such a manner as not to injure the tube and to have complete control over the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that can be adapted to fit any sized fluorescent tube by a simple adjustment'or by interchanging of parts.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the device shown supporting a fragment of a fluorescent tube, with parts broken away for convenience of illustration and broken lines illustrating the released position of the clamping element.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse crosssection taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation taken of the lower end of the operating handle.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one of the clamping jaws removed from the handle of the device.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse cross-section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the jaws of the device in released position.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the rod used within the hinged portion of the jaws.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference character 10 indicates generally a handle having an elongated tubular form. The handle 10 is provided with a cross head 11 removably mounted thereon. The cross head 11 has a socket 12 formed therein engaging over the upper end of the handle 10 and is held therein by a cross bolt 13.

Tube gripping jaws 14 are provided with interfitting hinge portions 15 connected together by a pivot rod 16. The rod 16 forms part of and bridges between a pair of anchor bolts 17 extending through holes 18 formed in the outer ends of the cross head 11. The bolts 17 are locked in the holes 18 by knurled nuts 19, thus holding the pivot rod 16 and the jaws 14 to the cross head 11.

A pair of cam levers 20 embrace the upper end of the handle 10 and the socket 12 of the cross head 11. The levers 20 are pivotally mounted to the handle 10 by the cross bolt 13 threaded through the levers 20 on threads 21.

The cam levers 20 are connected together adjacent their upper ends by a cross member 22, while set screws Patented Oct. 7, 1958 23 are threaded through the tip of the levers 20 in position to contact the jaws 14 and on pivotal movement of the cam levers 20 causing the jaws 14 to grip the fluorescent tube 24. The jaws 14 are preferably lined with a resilient material 25. This material 25 grips the tube 24 when the jaws 14 are closed thereabout, holding the tube 24 from turning. The set screws 23 can be adjusted in the cam levers 20 to adjust the closing of the jaws 14 a limited amount to accommodate the various sized tubes 24.

Operating cables 26 and 27 are connected to the cam levers 20 at 26A and 27A. The cam levers 20 connected by cross member 22 move as a unit to pivot about pivot 13 for opening and closing the jaws 14 about the tube 24 by cam engagement of the screws 23 with the curved outer surfaces of the jaws 14 above the pivot rod 16 thereof. In one direction of movement of the levers 20 screws 23 exert a closing pressure on jaws 14 and in the opposite direction the screws 23 retreat from the jaws 14 which are then opened by spring 35. The cables 26 and 27 enter through opposed openings 29, passing through the handle 10. The cable 26 terminates in an anchor fitting 30 forming part of the slidable sleeve 31, while the cable 27 connects to the anchor fitting 32 forming part of the slidable sleeve 33. A pair of oppositely disposed slots 34 extending longitudinally of the handle 10 permit longitudinal movement of the fittings 30 and 32 therethrough when the sleeves 31 and 33 are moved longitudinally of the handle 10. The jaws 14 are opened by a spring 35 when released by the cam levers 20. The spring 35 has its opposite ends connected to the jaws at 36.

I will now describe the operation of this new and improved fluorescent tube 24 installing and removing device. The operator grips the handle 10, pulls down on the sleeve 33 pulling the cable 27 into and down through the handle tilting the cam levers 20 to the broken line position, Figure l, the spring 35 will open the jaws 14 to the position shown in Figure 6. The jaws 14 then can receive a tube 24 by the operator placing the same within the jaws 14 or by moving the jaws 14 up within a fixture.

When the jaws 14 are in position relative to gripping the tube 24 the sleeve 31 is pulled down on the handle 10. This pulls the cable 26 and the locking levers 20 to the position shown in full lines on the drawings, causing the ends of the set screws 23 to engage the outer faces of the jaws 14 camming them towards each other about the pivot rod 16 and gripping the tube 24 with the resilient material 25. By this gripping action, the tube 24 can be easily handled from the floor without using ladders and the like.

Figure 5 illustrates the jaw 14 assembly removed from the cross head 11 to permit various sized jaws 14 to be applied to the device to grip and hold diiierent sized fluorescent tubes 24.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluorescent tube handling implement comprising an elongated tubular handle, a cross head detachably secured to one end of said handle, a pair of pivotally connected elongated arcuate jaws pivotally and detachably secured to said cross head, a spring secured to said jaws normally biasing said jaws to open position, a pair of elongated cam levers, means engaging said levers intermediate the opposite ends thereof pivotally mounting said levers on said handle, a cable secured to one end of said levers, a second cable secured to the other end of said levers, a pair of sleeves slidable on said handle with one of said sleeves connected to the first named of said cables and the other connected to said second cable whereby sliding of one sleeve will swing said levers to cam said jaws to closed position and sliding of the other sleeve will disengage said cam levers from said jaws and permit said jaws to be moved to open position by said spring.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jaws have adjacent edges thereof formed-with interfitting hinge forming portions, and wherein said jaws are detachably secured to said cross head by means of a pintle extending through said hinge forming portions, and a pair of oppositely disposed right angularly extending securing bolts 15 2,393,880

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 659,631 Croteau et al Oct. 9, 1900 1,067,899 Craig July 22, 1913 2,381,563 Switzer Aug. 7, 1945 Beard Ian. 29, 1946 

